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THE INDIANA PACERS
The Pacers led Game 1 for just 0.3 seconds. But when you have Tyrese Haliburton, 0.3 seconds is all you need. Haliburton hit a long last-second jumper to lift Indiana to a stunning 111-110 Game 1 victory over the Thunder and cap a furious rally from 15 points down.
- It’s Haliburton’s fourth game-tying or go-ahead bucket in the final five seconds of the fourth quarter/overtime this postseason alone. Sam Quinn says the data suggests Haliburton is in the conversation with some of the top clutch individual playoff runs of all-time, like Dirk Nowitzki from 2011, LeBron James from 2007 … and even Michael Jordan from 1998. And here’s some reactions to the shot.
- It’s Indiana’s fifth time overcoming a 15-point deficit this postseason. This time, though, they trailed by 15 … in the fourth quarter … on the road … against the league’s best team.
- It ties the largest fourth-quarter comeback in the Finals in the play-by-play era (since 1996-97). The Mavericks also overcame a 15-point fourth-quarter hole in Game 2 of the 2011 Finals. Both teams were coached by Rick Carlisle.
- Carlisle is magnificent, but so are his players. All 10 Pacers who played scored, and nine hit at least one 3-pointer, tied for most ever in a Finals game. Indiana shot 18 for 39 (46%) from 3, including 6 for 10 in the fourth quarter. Oklahoma City was just 11 for 30 (37%) from deep, including 0 for 5 in the fourth quarter.
I have no clue how they do it. The Pacers committed 25 turnovers, but, crucially, only five in the second half. They just stuck around until they struck. Obi Toppin hit five 3s. Aaron Nesmith hit three. No Pacers player scored 20+ points, but six scored in double figures.
Without any better explanation, Brad Botkin says Indiana simply has a “team of destiny” feel.
😄 Honorable mentions
🏀 And not such a good morning for …
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THE OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER
I don’t think this is a game the Thunder gave away. The Pacers took it. But that won’t make it any easier to swallow for Oklahoma City. Here’s more that’s tough to swallow:
- The Thunder forced 25 turnovers, but they turned that into just 11 points. And that was major writes James Herbert.
- Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren shot a combined 8 for 28. That’s just not good enough from your second- and third-best players.
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 38 points but missed a short pull-up jumper moments before Haliburton’s game-winner.
- In order to better match Indiana’s five-out offense, the Thunder put Cason Wallace into the starting lineup for Isaiah Hartenstein. Wallace shot just 3 for 9 (0 for 3 from 3), was the defender on Haliburton’s game-winner and finished a team-worst -13.
Best-of-seven series require adjustments. The Thunder will make them. But, as Gilgeous-Alexander said postgame, they simply have to close better.
😔 Not so honorable mentions
🏈 Aaron Rodgers to join Steelers on one-year deal
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The long national (or at least Pittsburgh-wide) nightmare is over. Aaron Rodgers agreed to a one-year deal with the Steelers.
- Rodgers, 41, comes to the Steel City after a disappointing two-year stint with the Jets in which he tore his Achilles in the first game of 2023 and then struggled for much of 2024.
- While the 28 touchdown passes last season looks impressive, Rodgers averaged a career-low 6.7 yards per attempt. He finished 25th in expected points added per play and 29th in success rate, just one spot behind last year’s starter in Pittsburgh, Russell Wilson.
We can look at this in several ways: The Steelers are clearly better at quarterback than they were entering the day, when Mason Rudolph was the only starter, and better than they’ve been at the position since Ben Roethlisberger retired, in fact. But is it enough to really raise the ceiling? Pittsburgh hasn’t had a losing season under Mike Tomlin but also hasn’t won a playoff game since the 2016 season.
Bryan DeArdo says Rodgers does indeed set up Pittsburgh to make a deep postseason run.
- DeArdo: “Defensively, Rodgers will be complemented by a unit that is capable of winning some games on its own, especially after adding some necessary pieces via free agency and during the draft. The Steelers’ defensive additions this offseason includes six-time Pro Bowl cornerback Darius Slay and first-round pick Derrick Harmon, one of the top-ranked defensive tackle prospects in this year’s draft.”
But as Garrett Podell details, there are pros and cons.
- Podell: “Last season, Pittsburgh surrendered a quarterback pressure rate of 38.6%, the fourth-highest in the entire NFL. … Post-Achilles tear, Rodgers would certainly like to be operating out of shotgun and putting less pressure on his movement abilities at his age: The Jets lined up in shotgun on 74.3% of their offensive snaps (11th-highest rate in the NFL). Arthur Smith‘s Steelers lined up under center on 42.6% of their snaps, the fourth-highest rate in the NFL.”
Plus, as Cody Benjamin notes, the Steelers are banking on Rodgers to save them, which proved disastrous in New York.
Here’s more:
🏈 Colts’ Anthony Richardson sidelined indefinitely with shoulder injury
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The inauspicious start to Anthony Richardson‘s career continued Thursday, when Colts coach Shane Steichen revealed Richardson won’t participate in next week’s minicamp after re-aggravating a previous shoulder injury in OTAs.
- Specifically, Richardson is dealing with aggravation/inflammation in his right AC joint. He had the shoulder surgically repaired in 2023, ending his rookie year after just five weeks.
- Richardson won’t need surgery — just rest — for this ailment, but Steichen did not give a timetable for his return.
- CBS Sports NFL insider Jonathan Jones reports it’s not expected to impact Richardson for training camp.
- Daniel Jones will get first-team reps in minicamp.
One may think it’s just minicamp, but this is obviously not good. Richardson was an extremely raw prospect as the No. 4 pick coming out of Florida. He desperately needed reps. Then he played in just four games as a rookie before a significant surgery and played just 11 games last year. Now, it’s another missed opportunity for reps, this time with his starting role on the line.
The Colts would love for Richardson to win the quarterback battle. Steichen’s and general manager Chris Ballard‘s jobs may depend on it. Richardson’s athletic upside is immense. But his injury history and inconsistent throwing — he completed under 48% of his passes — loom even larger, and his 2025 season is not off to a good start.
📺 What we’re watching this weekend
Friday
⚾ Marlins at Rays, 1:10 p.m. on MLB Network
⚾ Red Sox at Yankees, 7:05 p.m. on MLB Network
🏒 Game 2: Panthers at Oilers (Oilers lead 1-0), 8 p.m. on TNT/truTV/Max
🥎 Game 3: Texas vs. Texas Tech (Series tied 1-1), 8 p.m. on ESPN
⚾ Braves at Giants, 10:15 p.m. on MLB Network
Saturday
🎾 French Open women’s singles final: Coco Gauff vs. Aryna Sabalenka, 9 a.m. on TNT/truTV
⚾ Cubs at Tigers, 1:10 p.m. on MLB Network
🏀 Aces at Valkyries, 3 p.m. on ABC
⚽ USMNT vs. Turkey, 3:30 p.m. on TNT/truTV
⚾ Braves at Giants, 4:05 p.m. on MLB Network
⚾ Red Sox at Yankees or Padres at Brewers, 7:35 p.m. on Fox
🏀 Fever at Sky, 8 p.m. on CBS
Sunday
🎾 French Open men’s singles final, 9 a.m. on TNT/truTV
⚾ Phillies at Pirates or Astros at Guardians, 1:35 p.m. on MLB Network
⚾ Red Sox at Yankees, 7 p.m. on ESPN
🏀 Game 2: Pacers at Thunder (Pacers lead 1-0), 8 p.m. on ABC
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